Stolen ATM found with cash still inside

EL CAJON  Thieves succeeded in stealing an ATM from an EL Cajon gas station early Friday but failed to get any money out of it.

Police were called to Super Star gas on West Main near Marshall Avenue at 4:40 a.m. after a passerby noticed that the station’s store had been damaged, El Cajon police Lt. Mike Moulton said.

The cash machine was found intact with the money still inside a short time later on Navajo Road near state Route 125, Moulton said.

Detectives are checking video from the station and surrounding businesses. It appears that thieves backed a light-colored SUV, possible a Jeep Cherokee, into the business and then yanked out the machine at 4 a.m.

The SUV should have substantial damage on the back and on the passenger side, the lieutenant said.